Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives (MURI) Program

Submission Date

The submission date for FY 2018 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative is open:

White Papers are due no later than July 17, 2017 11:59 PM EST

Full Proposals will be accepted until November 1, 2017 11:59 PM EST

Program Description

Multidisciplinary University Initiative (MURI) efforts involve teams of researchers investigating high priority topics and opportunities that intersect more than one traditional technical discipline. For many military problems this multidisciplinary approach serves to stimulate innovations, accelerate research progress and expedite transition of results into naval applications.

Awards

MURI awards are made in research topics specified by the participating defense agencies each year that the program is in force. Specified topics change each year. Awards are typically for a period of three years (funded incrementally or as options) with two additional years possible as options to bring the total award to five-years, and at a funding level ranging from half a million to about a million dollars per year, with the size of the award dependent upon the topic, technical goals, and availability of appropriations.

Conditions

The MURI is competed in specific research topics described in the current announcement. Potential proposers are advised to read the announcement carefully. It explains the DoD's research needs upon which the topics are based. Proposals may be submitted only by U. S. institutions of higher education (i.e. universities) with degree granting programs in science or engineering, or by consortia of such institutions. Proposals from consortia of academic institutions may be warranted because research in the multidisciplinary topics may require forming teams with strengths in multiple science and engineering fields. One academic institution will be the primary awardee for purposes of award execution.

The DoD expects that MURI programs will promote application of defense research, principally for defense purposes but also for commercial purposes. The research topics described in the MURI announcement generally underpin dual use defense technologies that are critical to national defense and that also have good potential for commercial application. Interactions with research and development organizations that transition research findings to application, particularly industrial organizations, DoD laboratories, and other organizations that perform research and development for defense applications, are encouraged.